'Space Rice' Aboard Chang'e 5 Lunar Probe Produces Grain, Potential Addition of Rice Variety on China's Food Industry

After traveling for 23 days aboard the Chang'e 5 craft, the first batch of the Chinese rice seeds showed signs of growing grain. The rice on China's lunar craft had been in space being examined since November 2020. The results from the mutation breeding studies on space rice are anticipated to keep China's food security intact while producing additional various grains to the ones that are already available on the market. China's space rice could also contribute to the country's future missions, including the trip to the moon and Mars.

Space Rice: Chinese 'Rice from Heaven' Yields 1 Centimeter Grain After 4 Months

South China Agricultural University, located in Guangdong Province, is presently holding 2,000 space rice. The rice had been planted 4 months already, and the yielding of grain after the long wait suggests that the examination of the plants is successful. The grains, which are estimated to be 1 centimeter long, had been harvested and were packed into 3 separate containers, reports Global Times.

China's space rice examination does not stop there. After the harvest, the best grains will be picked from the rest and will be part of further studies. Space rice top grains will be bred via laboratory experiments and will eventually be planted on rice fields. University of South China's research center deputy director Guo Tao said that these rice are expected to add more selection of rice to the harvest and will help China's rice industry boost.

The Chinese 'rice from heaven,' even though an advancement to space and food science, had been a topic for heated discussion. Frustration from Chinese citizens occurred, as the space rice is not yet available for public consumption. Guo emphasized that the space rice is still under series of studies and will not be available on the market for at least three or four years.

Panjin's rice production and breeding expert Xu Lei said that the space rice studies, including regional trials and comparisons, are needed for the rice to be approved on the scientific reviews at the provincial and state levels. Panjin is located at Liaoning Province, one of the largest mass rice producers in Northeast China.

Space Rice in Food Market, Space Breeding, and Super Hybrid Rice

Space rice variants that show promising features, including better varieties and abundant yielders, are observed to be resilient against organic diseases and climate change. After further research, the best rice will be carefully picked from the lot and officially recognized by China as part of stable rice varieties. The rice could also be promoted and available for global consumption once the study is concluded and approved.

China's space seeds are also contributing to the country's hybrid rice development. The results from the space rice studies could be added to the super hybrid rice research, Guo said. If successful, the super hybrid rice could be an additional option on the food market.

Space breeding technology had been one of the main interests of experts throughout recent decades, studying factors that are not common here on Earth. Research on space breeding aims to determine the influence of cosmic materials and composition, including the space vacuum and cosmic rays, on our planet's organisms.

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